Daisy Ella 395 views
Last Updated On: May 03, 2025 10:46 AM , Published On: Aug 15, 2024 07:32 AM
All 31 teams and the 595 athletes from Team USA had great success at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. With a total of 126 medals, Team USA topped the medal final with 40 gold, 44 silver, and 42 bronze, putting on their most excellent showing since Los Angeles 1984. These are a few of the Game’s most significant moments.
Two more countries than the previous record of 27 won gold medals in the athletics competition. With historic golds for their respective countries from Thea La-Fond, Arshad Nadeem, and Julien Alfred, Dominica, Pakistan, and Saint Lucia were all represented on the athletics medal table for the first time.
Top 10 Olympic Moments
- Stolen Glory
Controversy always surrounds the Olympics: fencing cheats, incorrectly positioned vaults, kicks to officials by martial artists, badminton players throwing matches, fake reports of muggings, boycotts, and doping scandals. Oh, my, how many drug scandals? However, one issue stands out and continues to be the subject of intense discussion nearly 50 years later.
- Usain Bolt Stuns Athletics
Usain Bolt won the gold medal so quickly that he nearly became used to it. Still, it's hard to overstate his influence on his sport in Beijing in August 2008. Even though he slowed down and beat his chest just before the finish line, Bolt still managed to win the 100 meters in an incredible world record time of 9.69, quickly overtaking his competitors.
- The Black Power salute
The image of Tommie Smith and John Carlos standing on the Olympic podium with medals around their necks, heads bowed, and each with a gloved hand formed into a fist and hoisted above their heads, displaying the Black Power salute, is probably the most well-known in all of sports history. Even though Smith had won the 200 meters in a substantial 19.83-second world record, their protest received international attention.
- Bob Beamon Leaps Into History
At 2,240 meters, in the rarefied air of Mexico City, records were sure to be broken, but not in this manner. The clear favourite going into the 1968 competition was American Bob Beamon, but after he fouled on his first two tries, it appeared that he would not even advance to the finals. No one could have been ready for his first jump in the final, but he modified his run-up and qualified.
- Blood in the Water
Isn't water polo a polished sport? What's all that swimming and ball-flinging about? How difficult could it be? It was pretty violent, never more so than in the 1956 competition semifinal. Although Hungary and the USSR were not informed, the Melbourne Games were called "the friendly Games".
- Cathy Freeman Unites A Nation
We go from someone who was denied their destiny to someone who is living out theirs. It was impossible to imagine the amount of pressure Cathy Freeman had before her home Games in Sydney in 2000. As the nation's sole medalist in realistic athletics, her smile shined from every billboard, and she started the Olympic flame.
- Derek and His Dad
Derek Redmond believed he had overcome terrible illnesses and regrets when he qualified for the 400-meter semifinal in Barcelona in 1992 and was given a reasonable chance of winning a medal. He was in a good position one hundred and fifty meters into the race when he felt severe pain in his upper right leg and heard a pop.
- Nadia Comaneci’s perfect ten
While it's inaccurate to state that 14-year-old Nadia Comaneci was unknown going into the 1976 Olympics in Montreal, she had been making waves in the gymnastics community for months. The Romanian athlete was by no means well-known.
- Lawrence Lemieux’s selflessness
In terms of possible drownings, this one was indeed in danger of happening. Lawrence Lemieux, a Canadian, was a medal candidate in the Finn Class in 1988 while in Busan, South Korea. As he went through highly stormy situations in second place in his race, he noticed that Singapore's boat in the 470 class had capsized in a different race.
- Eric the Eel
Without a doubt, the most unlikely Olympic heat winner in history was Eric Moussambani. The 22-year-old had never seen an Olympic-sized pool before coming to Sydney in 2000; he started swimming eight months before the Olympics.
Olympic Performers 2024
As an honor to the upcoming host city, California musicians H.E.R., Snoop Dogg, Billie Eilish, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers performed. For the handover, actor Tom Cruise also performed a stunt. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and Simone Bile gave the action star the Olympic flag.
The flag's journey to the United States began when he attached it to the back of a motorcycle and raced off. Then, further drawing into classic Los Angeles images, Eilish and her brother Finneas performed "Birds of a Feather" on a lifeguard tower.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Which nation took home the gold in 2024?
The United States placed first overall, first in bronze, second in silver, and tied for first in gold with China.
Q. Which one will compete in the Olympic Games in 2024?
Meanwhile, Paris was believed to be the preferred host for 2024. Paris was officially confirmed as the host city of 2024 when the IOC stated on July 31, 2017, that Los Angeles was the only candidate for 2028.
Q. What is the name of an Olympic athlete?
Competitors who participate in the Olympic Games, also known as the Olympics, are international athletic competitions featuring various matches between competitors representing their nations.